2.50pm Oh Grandouet, what on earth was that?

Chris Cook: Nicky Henderson's classy-looking hurdler was hacking along on the heels of Celestial Halo at the top of the Wincanton straight when he took off a full stride too early and stepped through the second-last in the Elite Hurdle. Celestial Halo was left to win unchallenged, which apparently takes Paul Nicholls to 1,999 winners over jumps.

2.30pm Quito wins dour race at Down Royal

Chris Cook: That's not how favourites are supposed to win. Quito De La Roque was sent off at 11-4 despite suggestions that he'd need the run in the JNWine Champion Chase at Down Royal just now and he stayed on to win as those in front ran out of puff.

Sizing Europe and The Nightingale seemed to have the race between them from a long way out but became very tired over the last two fences on this soft ground. Quito De La Roque was hunted around by Davy Russell and never looked like getting competitive until the final fence when it was clear that Sizing Europe was folding up.

The winner was already 20-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March and that price may now come under pressure.

Boston's Angel, winner of last season's RSA Chase, was in contention when unseating Robbie Power on the far side.

1.30pm Paul Hanagan is champion for the second time

Chris Cook: Silvestre de Sousa has just finished unplaced on True Bond, his first ride at Doncaster this afternoon, and that means that Paul Hanagan will retain his title as champion Flat jockey. De Sousa trails him by four wins and has only three rides left on the card, which closes the turf season on the Flat.

It's slightly disappointing, for me, that De Sousa has not been rewarded for all his efforts this year with a full book of rides. There were three other races at Doncaster today in which he could have ridden if someone had offered him a ride, and all three have many runners, but it seems that none of those involved have a use for his services.

Of course, we all understand that trainers and owners have an established pecking order of riders they like to use but there would surely be no harm in departing from it for one day of the year, ie the final day of the season. This lack of imagination and original thinking is one of the things that holds the sport back, I feel.

Just to rub it in, De Sousa finished last on True Bond.

Today's TV races

Silvestre de Sousa is set to just miss out on taking this year's jockeys' championship but the Brazilian may yet be able to raise a smile on the final day of the Flat turf season if Oceanway (3.10) can take the Betfred November Handicap at Doncaster.

She was far from disgraced when beaten half a dozen lengths in a hot handicap at Newbury last time out and had previously displayed admirable tenacity to outbattle her rivals in rain-softened ground at York.

The mile-and-a-half trip here asks a brand new question of Oceanway and her pedigree is not entirely supportive about her prospects of getting home. Nor is she the most predictable in this line-up as she lost her form dramatically in the middle of the season.

But the way she has seen out shorter distances in victory has been most encouraging and the selection has produced some of her very best efforts when teamed with De Sousa in the past.

Doncaster 2.00 Alan McCabe has had Zacynthus in his care for barely a week but could have got a bargain when snapping him up for 60,000 guineas at the sales after a back-to-form fourth over today's course and distance on his latest start. If any further improvement is forthcoming for the change of stable, then he ought to go well here.

Down Royal 2.20 Impressive when breaking his Grade One duck at Aintree on his final start last season, Quito De La Roque should prove hard to beat if ready enough for his seasonal return. Sizing Europe simply doesn't seem as effective at this three-mile trip and won't be allowed much breathing space if Midnight Chase sets off at his usual fierce gallop.

Doncaster 2.35 Despite appearing not to see out the trip when tried over a mile and a quarter last year, it's got to be worth another attempt for Off Chance given the way she has been staying on at the finish over a mile in recent starts. There would be no more deserving winner than this admirably tough filly.

Wincanton 2.45 Anything like odds-against would be a must-bet about Grandouet. He probably won't be operating at 100% fitness here, but can nevertheless take advantage of the 10lb he receives from top-weight Celestial Halo. He progressed throughout last season and has scope to keep going forwards for Nicky Henderson over the months ahead. It is hard to see how his rivals can tactically outmanoeuvre him, even in this small field.

Wincanton 3.20 This contest represents a sizeable step down in grade for the David Pipe-trained Madison Du Berlais, who has come down the weights after a bleak spell last season. If he gets into a rhythm with his jumping in the early stages, he could easily outperform his double-figure odds. Alderluck and Checkerboard also make some appeal at the foot of the weights in an open heat.

Doncaster 3.40 With most of his previous best performances having come when able to adopt frontrunning tactics, Libranno deserves extra credit for his most recent effort when third to Deacon Blues on Champions Day. Six furlongs is his optimum trip and although he doesn't have the same sexiness of improving rivals such as Sirius Prospect and Our Jonathan, his formbook claims are solid and trainer Richard Hannon has won this race twice before in the last six years.

Horse sense

Fergal O'Brien is up and running with a couple of winners since leaving former boss Nigel Twiston-Davies in the summer and at Wincanton on Saturday he takes the wraps of a horse who could be one of his leading flagbearers this season.

Checkerboard (3.20) has been bought privately from the dispersal of Howard Johnson's team and creeps in at the bottom of the weights in the Badger Ales Trophy.

He will need to find further improvement to take a hand but O'Brien has been pleased enough with everything the horse has done so far and with many of his rivals further up the handicap looking thoroughly exposed, Checkerboard may be capable of springing a surprise for his new trainer.

Nicky Henderson's grass gallops are finally in full working order after the dry weather relented and the stable is keen on the chances of Veiled (1.45) and Grandouet (2.45) at the same track.

Peter Chapple-Hyam has had to be patient with Scarabocio (12.15) who belatedly makes his racecourse debut at Doncaster on Saturday afternoon. The son of Shamardal has had his problems this year but has always shown some ability at home and has been given an ambitious entry for next year's Derby . He is fitted with a hood for this run in the hope that it helps him to settle in the early stages. Tango Sky comes back from a break in the same race and Ralph Beckett's team are ending the season in such fine form that he must be rated a danger.

Also worth keeping on side for the Beckett stable is Ceilidh House (2.35), who threw in a shocker when tailed off at Goodwood last time but who works with all of her old enthusiasm and she took this race 12 months ago in similar conditions. The favourite is Principal Role, and deservedly so on recent form, but she has to give 3lb and more to all of her rivals and any further rain would not be in her favour.

Looking forward to next week, Godolphin bloodstock expert John Ferguson's foray into training jumpers has gone with considerable success so far and a couple more are worth looking out for next week. One-time smart Flat performer Cry For Freedom runs in the novice hurdle at Huntingdon on Tuesday and has reportedly taken well to this new discipline, while Cotton Mill is also worth backing if he lines up at Hereford on Monday.

Seen and heard

Might controversial footballer Joey Barton be on the verge of further increasing his involvement in the sport? Newmarket's Plantation Stud is looking for a new owner with present proprietor Dermot O'Rourke reportedly experiencing financial difficulties. The Irish property developer, who bought the stud from Lord Howard de Walden's family in July 2005, failed earlier this year to secure a judgement in the Irish courts that would have forced three businessmen to repay €22m (£18.9m) plus interest. Barton was recently spotted visiting the Stud, home of Irish 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes winner Araafa who has so far proved disappointing as a stallion.

Newmarket trainer Mark Tompkins, writing on his blog, rued on Monday that "everyone seems to have forgotten what the tariffs were all about". Tompkins was referring to the declaration by trainers and owners that they would not run their horses in races where the prize money levels were below those set by the Horsemen's Group. Interestingly, two days earlier Tompkins had run Smokey Oakey in a £7,000 Wetherby novices' hurdle, run at no less than £2,000 below its tariff value.

One lucky racegoer will win their weight in beer at Wincanton this afternoon. Borrowing liberally from a well-known childrens' book, a golden ticket has been hidden inside one racecard, which will entitle the winner to be 'weighed in' by the winning jockey immediately after the big race. The promotion celebrates the 50th anniversary of Badger Ales' sponsorship of the big race at the Somerset track.

Will Hayler's best bet

Trafalgar Road 12.45 Sandown

Plenty of potential banana-skins in this, which includes a couple of very interesting types. But Charlie Longsdon is capable of bringing Trafalgar Road back from nearly two years off in good enough form, especially with the handicapper having shown some leniency. The recent rain has helped his chances too. He had form in better contests than this when last seen.